Monday of the Third Week of Easter, April 24, 2023

WORK OF GOD

“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So, they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent (John 6: 27-29)

The crowds having been fed the previous day, couldn’t find Jesus, so they went on the lookout for Him. Why were they looking for him? Jesus cut to the chase, saying “you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.”

“You saw signs”. John used the word “sign” in place of what we today call miracle. A sign does not point at itself, rather it points at something else. Think about road signs, they are indicators, things that help in our locating our destinations or directions. They don’t point to themselves. The signs or miracles of Jesus point us to who Jesus is.

Hence, Jesus went ahead to advise them to look for what matters in life. That man does not live on bread alone but on the words that come from the mouth of God.

What do you and I want in life?” What is your heart’s desire? Are you seeking Jesus for the right reason?” What are you doing so that you have eternal life? We are in engage in the “work of God”, that is, to know God and Jesus whom he sent. The work of God brings us happiness, peace and joy.

Our daily lives are full of things that claim that they can bring us happiness. Advertisements for these things are everywhere. We are bombarded with messages designed to make us feel dissatisfied with our lives as they are and to convince us that the purchases, they propose will make everything better.

Let’s us watchful and let us not be deceived. The road to happiness is Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and they life. This is the reason for Easter.

“Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And see, you were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.” – Saint Augustine of Hippo

Have a wonderful Week

About the Author

My name is Fr. Peter Eke, a priest of the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan. I was called to the Catholic priesthood in July 19th, 1997. I studied Canon Law at the Pontifical Lateran University, in Rome, Italy, with JCL Degree in 2001 and JCD (doctorate) Degree in 2003. Currently, I am the pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Prudenville, Saint James in Houghton Lake, and Saint Hubert in Higgins Lake. I am also a Judge at the Marriage Tribunal in my Diocese. In my free time, I love reading, listening to music, and taking a long walk. Since my ordination my inspiring message has been “with God the oil in the flask will not dry” (1Kings 17:14).

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9 Comments

  1. Thank you for this reflection Father.
    I especially love the St. Augustine quote that goes so well with what you wrote. It is one of my favorites of his.

  2. Thank you Father. St. Augustine is one of my favorites as well. May God bless you all this week.

  3. Thank you Fr Eke for your reflection and for sharing the quote of St Augustine.Beautiful and inspiring words.

  4. Enjoyed the piece by St. Augustine. I get distracted from God by earthly cares instead of trusting in god to handle it all.

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